Life-belt apparatus.



N 885 91s. PATENTED vA113128 1908;-

LFOCKETYN.

LIFE BELT APPARATUS. APPLIQATIoNI-ILED JUNE 1! 1907.

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NvENx-SR, JACK Foc-KETYN,

1 PATENTED M1128, 1908.

s 18. No --8 59 J POGKETYN L'LPE BELT APPARATUS.

APPLICATIONy 1ILE`11 JUNE 1. 1907.

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LWI'TNESSES,

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' simplify the construction while retaining the JACK FOCKETYN, OFANTWERP, BELGIUM.

LIFE-BELT APPARATUS.

Spece'ation of Letters Patent.

Patented April 28, 1908.

. Application filed .Tune 1, 1907. Serial No. 376,860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACK FooxETYN, architect, a subject of the BelgianKing, and residing at Antwerp, Belgium, `haveinvented new and usefulImprovements in Life-Belt Apparatus; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates tolife belt ap aratus of the type havingfront andback E members connected by shoulder straps. Such a paratus has hithertobeen constructed with t e body belts or fastening members attached toand passing around the floating members. It has been pro osed to adaptsuch apparatus to serve as a i low whendesired.

.Thegenera 'obj/ect of this invention is to supporting properties of theapparatus when in use in the water and also to make it lighter and morereadily applicable and adjustable than hitherto.

The improved arrangement of the' body belt is anim ortant feature of thepresent invention, suc belt being secured to and depending below thefloating members as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the carrying out of theinvention in one convenient manner: Figure 1 showsV a front view of thecomplete apparatus. Fig. 2 a side view. Fig. 3 a plan view of thecushions and shoulder straps. Fig. 4 a view of the body belt extendedwhich is attached to the rear cushion, and Fig. 5 a view of the frontcushion with the attachedv part carrying the fastening hooks. Fig. 6 isa plan view of a modified form of apparatus serving as a cushion whennot in use. Fig. 7 isl a side view thereof. Figs. 8 and 9 show planviews of the apparatus ready for use as life buoy. Fig. 10 1s a sideview thereof.

Referring particularly to Figs. l'to 5, the

front and back floating members a and b consist sir'n ly of twocushion-shaped bags with the thicker part at the top made of canvas orlike material although, .as hereinafter d'escribed, they need not beconstructed of a water roof-material. These bags are connecte by twoshoulder straps c adjustable by means of buckles or the like d, and theyare preferably worn close up to the chin of the wearer in front and atabout the same height at the back. The lower part ofeach iioating memberhas depending therefrom a fairly wide body band, e and respectivelyoating extending partially around each side of the body, the ends of theback band, e, overlapping the ends of the front band, f, at or near thefront of the body. The ends of the back band are provided with hooks orloopsh g, attached in any suitable manner and adapted to engage eyes orlugs h, secured to the middle part of the front band. A strap ortightening member, Z, is also rovided at the rear of the back band for ajusting the body band to suit different sized persons.

By means of the body band and shoulder straps the floating members, aand b, are held securely in position upon the wearer. The canvas or likebags, a and b, are filled or partially filled witha substance which willnot absorb water and is at the same time buoyant such as soot or thelike. The bags used need not therefore be waterproof and if accidentallycut open would still serve. their purpose. A further advantage in usinga soft substance such as this, is that the rear bag, b, may be used as apillow. Thus people at sea in times of unusual peril could wear theapparatus at night while sleeping and utilize it as aforesaid.Furthermore owing 4to its lightness and simplicity no great amount ofinconvenience would be caused thereby.

The center of buoyancy of the apparatus is very high up and consequentlyis certain to bring the head of the wearer above water on immersion eventhough the person be rendered unconscious from any cause. Rings or hooksmay also be provided upon the front bag for the attachment or support offood receptacles o r other articles, whereby a person will be enabled toremain in the water for a great length of time without assistance. Theapparatus may be worn by sailors or the like during the ordinaryperformance of their duties with very little inconvenience. I preferablyalso attach an apparatus carrying a beacon light, m, to the rearcushion, b, such apparatus forming a helmet or head covering andcontaining electric accumulators or other apparatus for supplying thelight.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 4

used on' benches, thwarts, or other seats of ships, boats and the like.In time of peril, the cushions n, n are brought apart from each other,and then the apparatus may be readily j fitted upon the shoulders of aperson.

Having now fully described my invention,v what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

A life-belt or buoy consisting of two ioatable-cushion-shaped memberseach having a straight upper plane and a swelled lower plane forincreasing the surface to be acted upon by waiter, straps connected withsaid members for firmly fitting the same upon tho shoulders and upperpart of the body of a 15 wearer, and lateral connecting supports forpassing under the arms oi" a wearer, the whole arranged to maintain aperson in a vertical position in the water.

In testimony whereof, l have signed my 2o name to this speciiieation inthe presence ol' two subscribing witnesses.

JACK FOCKETYN.

Witnesses G. DE LERsY, A. L. ADAMs.

